*** UDATE: June 7, 2010: Great news! The Girls in Tech organization has agreed to collaborate on the Singular Blonde Project with Switch! More to information to come! ***

There is going to be a shift in the content of Switch over the summer of 2010. Instead of the usual DIY Projects and fashion tech posts, I will be sharing my life-changing experience as I attend Singularity University. (more on singularity here) The first article is already up and from now on all the posts related to this subject will be tagged “Singularity.”

I am off for 10-weeks to study at Singularity Unviversity starting June 19th. This is no small feat and I need your support in order to be able to document the experience.

Singularity University is on the NASA Ames Research Campus. The non-profit university, started by Dr. Peter Diamandis and Dr. Ray Kurzweil, is where the best minds from the fields of bio, nano, info, AI, and related technologies come together and work to solve some of humanity's grand challenges. These challenges include poverty, world hunger, water shortage, home energy, global warming, and an infinite number of other humanitarian needs. More on Singularity University can be found on the Singularity University website.

Being able to attend is going to be a life changing experience, but just going to the program isn't enough. There is an opportunity here for a great story about how a fashionable girl who likes art and design came to embrace computer science and technology. My journey could really help other women and girls see their potential.

Hi Kittens!  I am getting ready for the Smart Fabrics Conference where I am holding a workshop in DIY electronic craft. This is a big event and I have not had time to post. Hopefully this DIY and video of the tilt/touch switch that I made for the workshop will keep you from having Switch withdrawal.

Here is how it works: The string of beads in the middle has a conductive bead on the end. This bead carries the power and as it turns and moves on the conductive fabric pieces the corresponding LEDs light up. Simple but powerful! What can you make with this idea? 

Materials:

• conductive fabric
• LED Sequins
• regular craft beads
• conductive thread
• 3V battery holder
• one large silver bead.

NOTE: In the video I had small silver beads and they didn't work too well, I added the larger one later.

Fabric Tilt Switch from iHeartSwitch on Vimeo.

[Above: Syuzi and Alison meeting for the first time at Maker Faire in 2006]

After four years, Syuzi Pakhchyan and I were finally able to get together and host our own talk about girls in technology. The talk was called “Duh… Its Like Tech for Girls <3" and it was presented as a core converation at SXSW Interactive 2010. We were joined by many audience members, who were passionate about igniting that tech spark in girls, teens, and women.

Syuzi Pakhchyan of Fashioning Technology and I are joining forces at SXSW and hosting a session called “Duh…It’s Like Tech for Girls <3.” Here is the information: 

Duh ... It's Like Tech for Girls <3

SXSW Interactive, Austin, TX

Monday, March 15, 11am, ACC 7

Jana Thomson from Geek Austin gets the dirt on Alison and her Core Conversation at SXSW, " Duh...It's Like Tech for Girls" 

Both Syuzie Pakhchyan of Fashion Technology and Alison will be running this core converstaion at SXSW. Please join them on Monday, March 15 at 11:00 AM. http://my.sxsw.com/events/event/487

Below is an excerpt from the interview, you can read more on GeekAustin.com at http://geekaustin.org/2010/02/24/sxsw-panelist-alison-lewis

"Jana: Technology is seen as a man's world, more than even business these days. One of the questions on the SXSW website for your panel was' why does getting girls involved in technology matter to our quality of life?' In my experience, seemed that even very competent and intelligent and otherwise confident women seem to be intimidated by the use of technology. Do you think that by discussing technology and encouraging the use of it in domains where many women are more comfortable and confident that it will encourage women to become more confident in their understanding and usage of computers and mobile phones?

Alison: Not to be brash, but I don't care much if they learn to use their mobile phones.

iHeartSwitch.com is giving away a free copy of Switch Craft and a 10" x 10" swatch of fiber-optic lighted fabric from Luminex to one lucky person. We have a nice number of responses, but we'd like a few more so we've extended the deadline to the 12th of February, the winner will be announced on February 20th, so stay tuned! 

(Above: Me taking a break with the cast and crew on the MyHome2.0 set in 2008)

BACK for ANOTHER EPISODE for the tech home makeover show MYHOME 2.0! I worked on 5 episodes in 2008 creating unique interactive systems, with my fellow Gurus Brian and Lloyd and made five families lives better through technology. Like before, we get only 48 hours to seamlessly mesh the new computer equipment, one-of-a kind interactive designs, and install Verizon FiOS into the newly redesigned home.

However, this season, the show has a fabulous new cast of characters. The Makeover team is now made up of a Head Guru, Scott Martian Brooks, the show Host, Tiffany Smith, Design Guru Mark Montano, a local FiOS Guru, and a Tech Guru - which is me for this episode. The Tech Guru used in the episode depends on the families needs and what type of installation they looking for. Brian is the mega metal headed mechanical technologist, Lloyd is the computer genius who can connect and code any home for an upgrade straight into the future, and then there is me, the
Techno-Fashionista, who softens everything up with personalized electronic designs that focus on aesthetics (of course!).

(Brian, Lloyd, and me hugging it out before the big reveal!)

You can watch the older episodes on Vimeo. Some of the projects you will find there include a
FiOS-Enabled Emotion Detector, an infrared digital harp, a digital Memory Wall, a whimsical PB&J Machine and more!

This week, Switch welcomes Tiffany Lawson as our guest blogger from San Francisco! Tiffany is a smart and stylish account manager for Sonic.net, an Internet Service Provider based out of Santa Rosa, CA. She spent yesterday gathering up the latest trends, news, and topics from the Girls in Tech: Catalyst Conference and will be sharing them with Switch readers tomorrow and Friday.

Tonight on Carol's Corner on Technology, Co-hosts Lloyd Emelle and Stephanie Lowe are discussing technology gift ideas on a budget. I'll be there discussing not only gifts that you can get online or at the store, but also gifts that you can make in your spare time using supplies from your local electronics and crafts store. If you are struggling with gift ideas, this is the episode you don't want to miss!
http://900amwurd.com/